Greetings from HATS

Greetings,

I apologize for not having written a blog for far too long. I attempted to do so several times but overwhelming sadness, with lots of tears for the drastic situation in Haiti, would have me crying and walking away, unable to find words to share with you. Today I am determined to push through and write something.

The situation in Haiti has been for a long time very sad and extremely difficult. It has continued to get worse and now it’s dire and extremely dangerous. People have had to hide out at home, both adults and children. Many people have been depressed, becoming more so as the situation gets worse instead of better as time goes on. Food is extremely scarce and what can be found is not affordable. The cost of what can be found is exorbitant. People are extremely hungry and malnourished. Schools have been advised since September by the government to remain closed due to threats from gangs, who stated they would burn down schools that open. A number of schools located near the larger gangs have been attacked. The stress level is extremely high.

Reports show that as gangs take over areas in PaP they enter houses of those who couldn’t get away, find those who are trying to hide, gang rape women and girls in front of husbands and brothers, then kill the husbands. It is unfathomable torture.

Many people have taken a chance to try to reach the US as migrants in old rickety unsafe boats in hopes of being allowed to stay there, to save themselves and their children, from the horrible situation in Haiti. Far too many lives have been lost at sea, others who actually touched US soil were quickly sent back by plane to the horrible, very dangerous situation, they had desperately tried to escape.

Businesses and banks have been closed, or if opened part-time they have not been operating normally for a long time. In a call with a good friend in Haiti this week I was told “Nothing is operating, or operating properly, in Haiti.” For far too long all gas supplies were blocked by gangs. No gas (diesel for us) meant no generator, no electricity, no water pumped into our tanks, no water to drink, to do laundry, to shower. The water from our main compound runs to our next door compound, our school, IMKH. When we can purchase gas both HATS compounds have water.

Luckner, the other director of HATS, is also the director of our school IMKH. It has grieved him to not have our school open and running, seeing our students being educated and being fed (knowing food is scarce in most families) , and seeing students interacting with other students and teachers. Recently, he decided to change this sad situation. Parents naturally were reticent to send children to school. Luckner decided mid November to open the doors of our school Nov 21st, having talked about it to parents on the radio the previous week. Understanding a lot of parents were scared to send children to school he talked with them for a week before opening the doors. The first week we were open he was thrilled to see that approximately 200 students had returned to school. Monday of this last week, 60 more students returned. I am happy to say that presently approx 260 students out of 364 registered are attending our school. Hopefully the remainder of the students registered to attend our school this year will soon turn up for classes.

Thank you to all our student sponsors for being understanding during the past couple of years that it was not possible to be able to do individual photos of your students. Photo workers Liette, Keith and Jim were unable, due to the danger, to go to Haiti to get it done. We will do the best we can for you to receive a photo this school year but due to the extreme danger and insecurity hopefully you understand we cannot make a promise.

I thank God, that instead of our students continuing to remain at home, in fear and depression, they are attending school, mingling with friends and classmates, receiving a meal, and being taught by their various teachers.

Our children, living at HATS Children’s Home, are well, and all are delighted to be back at school, while still waiting for and asking for Mama Karen to return to them. Our two youngest, Dickieson and Magdala, are doing grade 3 this year. Our oldest student presently, Moise, is doing his final year of high school, grade 13, with our other children doing their various grades.

Luc here in Canada, is doing his second last year of high school, grade 11 and continues to do very well in school. He thrives on being involved in his beloved sport of soccer. He is now 5’10” and a very strong young man. He works out at home and at the local gym.

Sadly, due to Covid-19 and the danger from gangs (kidnapping, killing), Luc and I have been unable to return to Haiti since 2020. I strongly desire to return to the mission, and I desperately wish to see things improve for all those in Haiti, but I see no end in sight at this time. I, however, continue to pray for other countries to send necessary help, not financial, to the precious Haitian people. This chaos and violence has to end.

This Christmas season I ask only for ‘prayers’ on behalf of the needy ones in Haiti who are hurting, hungry and terrified.
Thank you. God bless you. Proverbs 14:21 “Blessed is he who is kind to the needy.”

I wish you all Merry Christmas as you celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Love, Karen